J.Q.  Bittinger,  Ppstor. 


Centennisl  Discourse 

Fi-nst  Con2:rea:ational  Churdi 
Haverhill,  N.H. 


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MIN  14  1918      J 


CENTENNIAL  DISCOURSE. 


CENTENNIAL   DISCOURSE. 

I  UN  14  191« 

A    HISTORY^%£?iMLl!^ 

OF  THE 

FIRST   CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH, 

HAVERHILL,  N.  H. 

BY 

J.    Q.    BITTINGER,   Pastor. 


PRINTED   BY 

THE  CLAREMONT  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY, 

CLAKEMONT,   N.   H. 


NOTE. 

July  9,  1876,  was  recommended  to  the  Congregational 
churches  of  New  Hampshire  as  a  day  for  holding  Cen- 
tennial services.  The  Church  in  Haverhill  observed  the 
day  by  two  services,  one  in  the  morning,  on  which  occa- 
sion the  following  sketch  of  the  church  formed  a  principal 
part  of  the  exercises,  the  other  in  the  afternoon  which 
was  devoted  to  the  Sabbath  school.  Short  addresses 
were  made  by  the  superintendent,  P.  H.  Kimball,  giving 
a  history  of  the  school  from  its  organization  ;  by  Rev. 
James  Aiken  on  the  origin  and  history  of  Sabbath  schools 
in  general;  and  by  Dr.  Phineas  Spaulding  on  the  rela- 
tion of  Sabbath  school  work  to  the  conversion  of  souls. 


DISCOURSE. 

Amongst  the  many  forces  which  have  wrought  during 
the  past  century  in  the  wonderful  progress  and  civiliza- 
tion of  our  country,  the  foremost  place  must  be  assigned 
the  Christian  church.    Without  entering  into  a  discussion 
of  the  general  proposition,  it  will  be  my  chief  purpose  on 
the  present  oc3asion  to  give  a  sketch  of  this  church  and 
trace  its  influence  on  the  moral  and  religious  welfare  of 
this  community.     Like  every  other  Christian  church  its 
lines  of  light  and  power  have  extended  far  beyond  those 
-who  are  the  object  of  its  more  immediate  care — its  good 
and  noble  work  going  forward  wherever  any  of  its  mem- 
bers maintain  a  living  Christian  faith  and  example.     Its 
chief  labor  is  here  ;  it  has  also  a  part  in  the  general  mould- 
ing of  the  nation's  moral  life. 

The  first  Congregational  Church  of  Haverhill  was  or- 
ganized October  13,  1790,  about  thirty  years  after  the  set- 
tlement of  the  town.  The  early  inhabitants  were  princi- 
pally from  Massachusetts,  and  were  distinguished  for  their 
strict  religious  principles  and  their  regard  for  the  Sabbath. 
The  town  of  Newbury,  Vt.,  was  settled  about  the  same 
time  that  Haverhill  w-as,  and  both  settlements  were  inti- 
mately related  in  their  religious  affairs, — the  people  of 
Haverhill  attending  divine  service  in  Newbury  for  the 
most  part  until  the  organization  of  this  church.  At  a 
town  meeting  of  the  proprietors  of  Newbury  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1763, — the  year  in  which  both  Newbury  and  Ha- 
verhill were  chartered, — it  was  voted  "  to  unite  with  Ha- 
verhill in  paying  a  preacher  for  the  term  of  two  or  three 
months  this  fall  and  winter."  The  year  following  a  church 


IV 

was  organized  at  Kewbury  composed  of  members  from 
both  sides  of  the  river,  and  also  au  ecclesiastical  society 
was  formed,  and  this  union  continued  for  nearly  twenty 
years.-  The  church  at  Newbury  was  the  first  church  or- 
ganized in  the  Connecticut  Valley  north  of  Charlestown, 
N.  H.,  the  Rev.  Peter  Powers  being  its  first  pastor.  So 
remote  was  the  church  from  sister  churches  that  in  call- 
ing a  council  for  installation  it  was  voted  that  the  place 
of  meeting  should  be  "  down  country  where  it  was  thoui^ht 
best,"  Hollis,  N.  H.  being  selected  as  the  place.  Mr. 
Powers  preached  his  own  installation  sermon.  Daring  the 
Revolutionary  war  from  fear  of  the  tories  and  Indians, 
Mr.  Powers  took  refuge  on  this  side  of  the  river  in  the  . 
house  of  Col.  Johnston,  a  member  of  his  church,  preach- 
ing occasionally  in  a  block  house  to  the  soldiers  and  in- 
habitants. This  block  house  was  situated  on  the  premis- 
es now  occupied  by  the  residence  of  Mr.  Harry  Johnston 
and  sister.  •  After  his  dismission  from  Newbury,  in  1782, 
he  preached  for  a  year  or  more  at  Haverhill.  From  the 
close  of  his  labors  here  until  1791  there  was  no  stated 
preaching  in  the  town.  Daring  this  interval  of  about 
six  or  seven  years  efforts  were  made  by  vote  of  the  town  to 
secure  preaching,  but  owing  to  a  want  of  harmony  be- 
tween the  north  end  and  the  south  end  those  efforts  were 
defeated.  In  January,  1788,  it  was  voted  to  divide  the 
town  into  two  parishes,  but  this  vote  was  not  carried  into 
effect.  Subsequently,  in  1789,  an  article  was  put  in  the 
warrant  to  see  if  the  town  would  raise  money  for  preach- 
ing, but  the  proposition  was  defeated.  The  inhabitants 
of  the  south  end  now  petitioned  the  Legislature  for  a  di- 
vision of  the  town  in  the  hope  that  by  such  division  they 
could  secure  the  preaching  of  the  gospel,  and  alleged  this 
as  the  reason  of  their  petition.     Meantime  at  a  town  meet- 


ing  ill  1790  a  vote  was  carried  to  raise  £  40  for  preaching 
which  seems  to  have  been  spent  for  that  purpose.  In 
August  of  the  same  year  a  town  maeting  was  hald  to  see 
if  the  town  would  unite  in  th3  settle:n3at  of  a  ministar 
who  should  preach  part  of  the  time  at  the  maeting  house 
at  the  south  end  and  part  of  the  tims  in  the  Court  House 
or  some  place  in  Horse-meadow  in  proportion  to  the  taxes 
paid  at  each  end  of  the  town,  and  a  committee  was  ap- 
pointed and  directed  to  hire  the  Rav.  Mr.  B3II  on  proba- 
tion. The  people  seam  to  have  baen  quite  earnest  in  this 
movement,  since  in  Saptember  of  the  sama  year,  the  £  40 
baing  nearly  expanded,  the  town  voted  another  £  40  for 
the  same  purpose. 

The  moral  and  religious  condition  of  the  community 
during  the  somewhat  long  period  whan  they  were  deprived 
of  the  preached  gospel  had  become  very  alarming.  Ini- 
quity and  irreligion  held  full  sway.  Practically  there 
was  no  Sabbath,  and  only  three  parsons  in  all  the  south 
part  of  the  town  were  professing  Christians.  Two  of  these 
were  Col.  Charles  Johnston  and  the  Hon.  James  Wood- 
ward. But  in  the  midst  of  this  moral  waste  and  wicked- 
ness thoughts  of  God  came  into  the  hearts  of  men.  "When 
I  thought  of  tha  Sabbath-breaking,  aad  that  thare  ware 
no  people  here  to  pray  for  me,"  was  the  remark  of  one, 
"I  became  alarmed."  Cartainly,  a  valid  ground  for 
alarm.  A  powerful  revival  of  religion  now  began  and 
prevailed  so  universally  in  all  the  south  end,  that  not  a 
family  from  the  Pierm  )nt  line  to  the  D^w  farm  was  un- 
moved. The  people  being  without  a  religious  guida  the 
Rav.  Dr.  Burroughs  of  Hinover  cama  upon  the  grounl 
and  did  the  work  of  afliithful  pastor,  visiting  from  house 
to  house,  and  speaking  and  praying  with  the  people.  And 


VI 

thus  whilst  the  dissensions  of  men  were  defeating  the  ef- 
forts for  a  permanent  ministry,  God  caused  the  "  wrath 
of  men  to  praise  him,  and  the  remainder  of  wrath  he  re- 
strained." 

This  religious  awakening  was  the  beginning  of  this 
church  which  was  organized  with  a  membership  of  twenty 
three  persons.  The  Rev.  Eden  Burroughs  D.  D.,  of  Han- 
over, the  Rev.  Mr.  Ward  of  Plymouth,  and  Dr.  Asa 
Burton  of  Thetford,  Vt.,  assisted  in  the  organization. 
Others  were  soon  a<lded  to  its  membership,  amongst  them 
a  large  number  from  Pierniont  who  had  withdrawn  from 
the  church  in  that  place  on  account  of  its  supposed  un- 
soundness in  the  orthodox  faith.  Tliat  church  is  now  ex- 
tinct and  must  not  be  confounded  with  the  present  Con- 
gregational church  of  Piermont. 

In  the  latter  part  of  1791  efforts  were  made  to  settle 
over  the  whole  town  Ethan  Smith  who  was  then  preaching 
in  Haverhill,  but  the  plan  fell  through  on  various  pretexts, 
one  of  which  was  that  the  salary,  £  70,  would  bankrupt 
the  town.  The  couditior.s  of  settlement  were  then  modi- 
fied in  order  to  meet  the  objections  of  those  residing  at 
the  north  end,  and  Mr.  Smith  accepted  a  call  to  become 
pastor  of  the  church  ;  but  the  discordant  elements  were  so 
great  that  they  could  not  be  harmonized,  and  accordingly 
a  town-meeting  was  warned  by  the  constable,  on  petition 
of  citizens  from  the  north  end,  to  beheld  one  day  before  the 
time  appointed  for  Mr.  Smith's  ordination,  at  which  meet- 
ing all  votes  passed  in  regard  to  his  settlement  were  re- 
scinded. The  people  of  the  south  end  however  were  not 
disposed  to  see  themselves  wrongfully  defeated,  and  with 
commendable  courage  and  a  noble  protest  against  such  un- 
justifiable opposition, — after  the  conditions  of  settlement 


VII 


were  modified,— engaged  to  support  Mr.  Smith  by  vol  an- 
tarv  subscriptions,  and  he  was  accordingly  ordained  as 
the  first  pastor  of  this  church  on  the  25th  of  January, 
1792.  The  council  met  at  the  house  of  Ezekiel  Ladd, 
Esq.,  and  was  composed  of  Rev.  Eden  Burroughs  and 
delegate,  Hanover ;  Dr.  Asa  Burton  and  delegate,  Thet- 
ford?Vt.;  Rev.  John  Siwyer  and  delegate,  Orford;  Rev. 
Nathaniel  Lambert  and  delegate,  Newbury,  Vt.;  Rev. 
William  Conant  and  delegate,  Lyme ;  and  Rev.  Stephen 
Fuller,  Vershire,  Vt. 

In  April  of  the  same  year  two  deacons  were  chosen  ; 
Col.  Charles  Johnston,  who  had  come  from  the  church  in 
Newbury,  as  first  deacon,  and  Dr.  Martin  Phelps  as  sec- 
ond deacon.     Col.  Johnston  was  one  of  the  earlier  settlers 
of  the  town,  a  man  of  large  ability  and  liberal  mind,  of 
great  energy  and  distinguished  patriotism,  taking  a  prom- 
inent part  in  the  battle  of  Bennington  under  Gen.  Stark, 
and  exercising  a  controlling  influence  in  the  affliirs  of  the 
settlement.     From  the  frequent  mention  of  his  name  in 
the  early  records  of  the  church  and  the  numerous  special 
duties  which  were  assigned  him,  he  was  undoubtedly  its 
most  influential  member  and  one  on  whom  it   could  al- 
ways rely.     We  are  indebted  to   him   for  the  beautiful 
park  that  adds  so  much  to  the  attractiveness  of  our  vd- 
lage,  and  also  for  land  on  which  the   Court  House  and 
Academy  were  built,  in  securing  which  to  the  place  he 
took  an  active  and  prominent  part.     He  represented  the 
town   in  the  legislature,  and  was  Judge  of  Probal^e,  and 
but  for  him  it  was  said,  speaking  of  the  moral  condition 
of  the  place,  "Haverhill  Corner  would  sink."     He  illus- 
trates the  fact  that  an  enterprising  spirit  is  not  without  its 
reward. 


VIII 

Out  of  the  dissensions  in  regard  to  the  settlement  of 
]Mr.  Smith  sprang  a  controversy  let^Yeen  this  church  and 
the  church  in  Newbury.  It  appears  that  two  members 
of  the  church  in  Newbury  living  at  the  north  end,  and 
who  seem  to  have  belonged  to  the  church  militant, — they 
wore  the  titles  of  Captain, — took  a  very  active  part  in  de- 
feating the  settlement  of  Mr.  Smith  by  the  town,  and  with 
eighteen  others  refused  to  pay  their  part  of  the  tax  which 
had  been  voted  for  preaching.  For  this  rebellions  course 
they  were  cast  into  prison.  The  church  in  Haverhill 
feelingitself  aggrieved  by  their  unchristian  course  brought 
the  matter  to  the  attention  of  the  church  in  Newbury, 
which  after  hearing  the  parties  rebuked  these  two  mem- 
bers for  unchristian  conduct.  .But  this  action  of  the 
church  w^as  soon  afterward  reversed,  against  which  the 
church  in  Haverhill  remonstrated,  and  the  matter  was 
referred  to  a  mutual  council  whose  decision  w^as  against 
the  church  in  Newbury.  But  the  erring  church  failing 
to  carry  out  the  advice  of  council,  this  church  after  much 
correspondence  in  regard  to  the  matter  and  W'ithont  re- 
ceiving any  satisfaction,  was  compelled  in  self-defence  to 
call  an  ex-parte  council  whose  decision  coincided  with 
that  of  the  mutual  council  and  was  very  decided  in  its 
tone.  Their  advice  seems  to  have  brought  the  church  in 
Newbury  to  its  Christian  senses,  and  uniting  again  w'ith 
the  church  in  Haverhill  a  third  council  w^as  called,  con- 
sisting of  the  churches  in  Lyme,  Sanbornton,  and  Salem, 
Mass.,  and  their  decision  was  a  re-affirmation  of  the  posi- 
tion taken  by  the  two  former  councils.  The  matter  was 
now  happily  concluded,  and  peace  and  good  fellowship  was 
restored  to  these  alienated  sister  churches.  The  controver- 
sy illustrates  the  saying  of  Scripture,  *' How  great  a  mat- 
ter a  little  fire  kindletb." 


IX 

In  addition  to  these  external  distractions  in  the  early 
history  of  this  church  were  corresponding  internal  distrac- 
tions which  greatly  embarrassed  its  life  and  growth. 
There  were  numerous  cases  of  discijDliue,  ending  many  of 
them  in  excommunication  ;  five  members  were  cut  off  for 
deserting  the  church  and  uniting  with  the  Baptists,  three 
for  the  sin  of  drunkenness,  one  for  uncleanness,  and  oth- 
ers for  unchristian  conduct  in  business  transactions,  and 
others  still  for  neglecting. church  ordinances  and  covenant 
vows.  These  unpleasant  engrossments  acted  unfavorably 
upon  the  church,  and  as  a  consequence  its  progress  was 
slow   after  the  first  year  or  so  of  Mr.  Smith's  ministry. 

From  the  organization  of  the  church  until  the  Newbury 
difficulties  began  seventy-six  were  admitted  to  its  mem. 
mership ;  but  from  that  time  till  the  close  of  Mr.  Smith's 
ministry, — a  period  of  five  years, — only  twelve  were  ad- 
mitted. Mr.  Smith  was  dismissed  January  23,  1799  fo 
want  of  adequate  support.  He  was  the  author  of  a  work 
on  Revelation,  and  also  wrote  a  history  of  the  Indians, 
in  which  he  maintained  the  theory  that  they  were  the  de- 
scendants of  the  lost  tribes  of  Israel.  He  was  a  man  of 
more  than  ordinary  ability  and  greatly  esteemed  by  the 
church  and  people,  and  his  ministry  was  fruitful  of  much 
good,  notwithstanding  the  perplexities  and  trials  of  the 
church  during  the  greater  part  of  his  administration. 

The  church  remained  without  a  minister  for  nearly  four 
years,  when  on  December  23,  1802,  Mr.  John.  Smith  was 
ordained  as  pastor.  Previous  to  this  the  church  extend- 
ed a  unanimous  call  to  David  B.  Ripley,  and  requested 
4he  town  to  concur  in  the  call  and  make  suitable  provi- 
sion for  his  support,  but  the  ^proposition  it  seems  wp^s  not 
accepted.     Afterward  the  town  united  in  the  support  of 


Mr.  Smith  who  also  preached  at  North  Haverhill.  It 
was  in  the  early  part  of  this  ministry  that  the  members 
from  Piermont,  some  thirty  in  number,  were  dismissed 
for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  new  church  there.  Grave 
complications  now  beset  the  church,  and  resulted  in  Mr. 
Smith's  dismission,  January  4,  1807. 

A  vacancy  of  eight  years  in  the  pastorate  now  followed 
and  during  all  this  time,  including  the  last  ministry,  the 
church  was  greatly  depressed  and  barren  of  life,  so  that 
in  1814,  of  the  ninety-six  persons  which  up  to  that  time 
had  become  connected  with  it,  only  twelve  remaiiiel.  In 
this  great  decrease  however  must  be  reckoned  the  thirty 
that  went  off  to  Piermont.  The  out-look  to  human  view 
was  gloomy  and  discouraging,  and  the  few  that  were  left 
to  testify  for  God  were  like  the  "  poor  and  needy  seeking 
water,  and  there  was  none,  and  their  tongue  f\iiled  for 
thirst."  But  in  this  dark,  darh  hour  of  the  church  and 
its  great  need  of  help,  the  promise  came,  "  I  the  Lord 
will  hear  thee,  I  the  God  of  Israel  will  not  forsake  thee. 
I  will  open  rivers  in  high  places,  and  fountains  in  the 
midst  of  the  valleys.  I  will  make  the  wilderness  pools  of 
water,  and  the  dry  land  springs  of  water."  And  it  was 
60.  The  windows  of  heaven  were  opened  and  the  spirit- 
ual refreshing  came  down  in  a  glorious  revival  which 
continued  with  more  or  less  power  for  iiearbj  three  years. 
At  the  commencement  of  this  awakening  the  church  ex- 
tended a  call  to  the  Rev.  Gfant  Powers  who  was  installed 
January  4,  1815.  As  the  fruit  of  this  revival  fifty-eight 
were  gathered  into  the  church,  among  whom  were  many 
leading  persons.  Another  awakening  occurred  in  1823, 
by  which  some  twenty  were  admitted  to  the  church,  and 
during  this  ministry  nearly  one  hundred  were  received  in 


XI 


all.  Mr.  Powers  was  dismissed  April  28,  1829,  on  ac- 
count of  inadequate  support  and  an  unfortunate  contro- 
versy with  the  Methodists.  It  was  about  the  time  of  his 
settlement  that  the  parish,  which  then  embraced  the 
whole  town,  was  reduced  to  its  present  limits.  Mr.  Pow- 
ers is  familiarly  known  as  the  author  of  a  "  History  of 
the  Coos  Country,"  in  which  he  has  gathered  a  multitude 
of  interesting  incidents  and  anecdotes  illustrating  the 
pioneer  life  of  Northern  New  Hampshire.  He  was  distin- 
guished as  a  vigorous  preacher,  unflinching  in  his  theolo- 
gy, which  was  decidedly  Calvinistic,  had  a  strong  aversion 
to  Arminianism,  but  in  spite  of  his  theological  prejudices 
he  was  a  man  of  excellent  Christian  character  and  highly 
esteemed. 

Of  those  who   came  into  the  church  in  the  extensive 
revival  of  1814  we  find  the  names  of  Chester  Farman 
and  Edmund  Carleton,  both  of  whom  soon  after  were  elect- 
ed to  the  office  of  deacon.     The  latter  was  the  esteemed 
village  physician.     Dea.  Farman  was  a  man  of  most  ex- 
cellent spirit  and  Christian  influence,  and  though  some- 
what limited  in  his  pecuniary  means  he  had  a   large  and 
generous  heart.     Such  a  man  is  always  a  help  to  a  church. 
The  "  pound  heart"  will  be  very  apt  to  enlarge  the  "pen- 
ny purse,"  whilst  the  "  penny  heart  "  somehow  almost  al- 
ways fails  to  find  the  "  pound  purse."     In  times  of  finan- 
cial  difficulty  in  the  church  he  would  say,  "  I  wish  I  was 
rich,  I  would  do  so  and  so,"  and  then  would  repeat  what 
the  good  Scotch  woman  said,  ''but  I  suppo-<G  the   Lord 
douH  trust  mer     He  stood  firmly  by  the  church  in  times 
of  disaffection  and  need. 

There  also  came  into  the  church  at  this  time  most  ex- 
cellent Christian  women,— Rebecca  D.  Gookin  the  first 


XTI 

superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  school  in  Ladd  street,  and 
her  sister  Ann;  Hannah  Johnston  also  superintendent  of 
the  Sabbath  school  at  the  Corner,  and  Nancy  Pearson, 
all  earnest  and  active  workers  for  Christ. 

One  other  person,  a  young  man  then  a  member  of 
Dartmouth  College  from  Haverhill,  came  into  the  church 
under  Mr.  Powers'  ministry.  Soon  after  his  admission 
he  was  appointed  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  school, 
a  position  which  he  continued  to  hold  for  nearly  fifty 
years.  Later  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  deacon,  and 
for  almost  half  a  century  he  has  been  actively  as-ociated 
with  the  history  and  work  of  this  church.  For  now 
nearly  a  year  on  account  of  sickness  and  feeble  health 
we  have  missed  him  froin  the  sanctuary  and  the  meetings 
of  the  church.  I  need  hardly  say  I  refer  to  our  much- 
esteemed  Dea.  A.  K.  Merrill. 

About  the  time  of  Mr.  Power's  dismission  from  the 
pastorate  of  this  church  the  present  house  of  worship  was 
bought.  It  was  built  by  the  Methodists,  who  owing  to 
financial  embarrassment  sold  it  to  the  Cono-reo;ational 
Church  and  Society.  There  was  at  this  time  some  divi- 
sion in  the  church,  arising  from  several  causes,  the  prin- 
cipal of  which  was  a  difference  of  opinion  in  regard  to 
candidates  for  settlement,  and  this  difference  was  supple- 
mented by  a  change  of  place  for  holding  meetings,  the 
people  north  of  the  Brook  objecting  to  the  greater  distance 
they  had  to  travel  in  going  to  church,  but  the  change 
proved  to  be  a  wise  one.  As  a  compromise  the  third  ser- 
vice was  held  in  the  old  meeting  house  on  Ladd  street. 

During  the  interval  of  nearly  three  years  which  fol- 
lowed Mr.  Powers'  dismission  the  most  powerful  awake- 
ning occurred  in  the  history  of  the  church,  known  as  the 


XIII 

revival  of  1831.  It  began  in  May  and  continued  tlirougli 
the  greater  part  of  the  summer.  As  the  result  of  the  re- 
vival forty  were  admitted  to  the  church  on  a  single  Sab- 
bath, and  about  sixty  in  all.  In  August  of  that  year 
the  Rev.  Henry  Wood  was  invited  to  the  pastorate  of 
the  church,  and  was  installed  in  November  following. 
His  ministry  here  closed  in  the  spring  of  1835,  when 
he  became  pastor  of  the  church  at  Dartmouth  College. 
He  afterward  was  appointed  Consul  at  Beirut,  and  later 
to  a  chaplaincy  in  the  United  States  Navy,  in  which  po- 
sition he  died  a  few  years  ago  in  Philadelphia. 

The  revival  of  1831  greatly  strengthened  the  church, 
bringing  into  it  those  who  became  active  and  devoted 
Christians, — Aaron  P.  Gould,  now  an  honored  deacon  and 
a  pillar  in  the  church  at  Piermont ;  Merrill  Pearson  who 
went  to  Bloomington,  111.,  and  took  his  religion  with  him  ; 
Amos  G.  Bartlett  afterward  a  preacher ;  Samuel  Bean 
who  also  entered  the  ministry ;  Olivia  L.  B.  Atherton 
who  married  Dr.  Drew  of  Waterbury,  Vt. ;  Sarah  Merrill ; 
Charlotte  Osgood  who  married  tlie  late  Daniel  Blaisdell 
of  Hanover. 

The  next  pastorate  in  this  church  was  that  of  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Gibbs  who  was  installed  June  16, 1835.  Mr.  Gibbs 
was  a  Scotchman  and  educated  in  London.  Soon  after 
his  installation  his  health  failed  and  he  continued  feeble 
during  the  whote  of  his  brief  ministry,  dying  within  two 
years  after  his  installation  whilst  pastor  of  the  church. 
He  sometimes  preached  when  he  was  so  weak  that  the  in- 
troductory services  were  conducted  by  one  of  the  deacons. 
Although  no  very  marked  interest  prevailed  during  this 
time  the  church  enjoyed  a  considerable  degree  of  pros- 
perity.    Mr.  Gibbs   was  greatly  beloved  by  his  people, 


XIV 

and  his  death  was  a  severe  loss  to  the  church.  He  was  a 
youug  mau  of  remarkable  promise,  of  great  earnestness 
as  a  preacher,  with  large  head,  and  a  somewhat  striking 
appearance  in  the  pulpit. 

In  June  27, 1838,  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  Archibald 
Fleming"  began  and  lasted  till  September  23,  1841, 
when  he  was  dismissed.  Mr.  Fleming  was  a  Scotch- 
man. It  was  during  his  ministry  that  the  anti-slavery 
excitement  swept  over  the  churches  in  this  region.  Mr. 
Fleming  carried  the  church  safely  through  this  critical  pe- 
riod, but  not  without  losing  his  hold  on  some  of  the  peo- 
ple. During  this  controversy  occurred  the  singular  cir- 
cumstance of  one  member  of  the  church,  who  was  more 
advanced  in  his  anti-slavery  sentiments  than  his  brethren, 
excommunicating  the  whole  church  and  refusing  to  walk 
with  them  in  Christian  fellowship.  Notwithstanding 
these  troublesome  times  about  twenty  were  admitted  to 
the  church  during  Mr.  Fleming's  ministry  of  three 
years.  In  1841  the  Washingtonian  temperance  move- 
ment came  on,  stirring  the  entire  community  and  result- 
ing in  a  revival  of  religion.  During  this  two-fold  inter- 
est, temperance  and  religion,  the  church  was  without  a 
pastor.  But  soon  after,  February  16,  1842,  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Delano  was  installed  over  the  church,  and  under 
his  early  ministry  some  forty  were  gathered  into  its  fel- 
lowship, mostly  converts  in  the  revival  which  sprung  out 
of  the  temperance  movement.  Many  of  these  were  from 
the  Sabbath  school.  Mr.  Delano  was  dismissed,  Janu- 
ary 14,  1847, — a,  man  of  imperious  will,  of  much  native 
vigor  of  mind,  and  somewhat  eccentric.  He  was  for 
more  than  thirty  years  one  of  the  trustees  of  Dartmouth 
College. 


XV 


This  pastorate  was  followed  by  a  period  of  over  two 
years  when  the  church  was  without  a  settled  minister, 
the  Kev.  Moses  C.  Searle  meantime  officiating  as  acting 
pastor.  This  arrangement  was  made  necessary  on  account 
of  some  divisions  in  the  church  ;  nevertheless  there  was 
considerable  religious  interest  in  the  year  following  Mr. 
Delano's  dismission.  One  circumstance  in  connection 
with  this  interest  is  very  suggestive.  In  the  house 
now  owned  and  occupied  by  Mrs.  Allen  Bailey  an  in- 
quiry meeting  was  in  progress  when  the  great  fire  broke 
out  which  consumed  nearly  all  that  part  of  the  village 
on  the  west  side  of  the  park.  So  great  was  the  consterna- 
tion of  the  people  in  view  of  the  appalling  destruction 
that  the  religious  feeling  in  the  community  immediately 
ceased,  and  did  not  again  revive,  illustrating  the  fact 
that  the  mind  can  be  deeply  engrossed  only  on  one  thing 
at  a  time.  .  But  of  those  who  came  into  the  church  during 
these  two  periods  there  were  some  earnest  Christian  workers. 
Alfred  Nichols  who  afterwards  \yas  an  efficient  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sabbath  school  in  Amesbury,  Mass.  ; 
R.  V.  C.  Emerson  now  living  in  Boston  ;  Hale  A.  John- 
son, a  devoted  worker  in  the  West;  and  an  excellent 
sister,  now  a  member  of  the  church  in  Thetford,  Vt., 
Mrs.  Harriet  Senter. 

The  first  ministry  of  the  Kev.  E.  H.  Greeley  began  in 
November,  1849,  at  which  time  he  was  ordained  pastor 
of  the  church.  It  was  during  the  early  part  of  this  pas- 
torate that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gallagher,  an  evangelist,  spent 
some  time  in  Haverhill,  and  as  the  result  of  a  religious 
interest  then  awakened  some  thirty  were  admitted  to 
the  church ;  amongst  them  John  L.  Merrill  and  his  brother 
Benjamin  ;    Mary   Spalding,  now  Mrs.  Towle  of  AVest- 


xvr 

field,  N.  J.;  Ezra  B.  Adams,  George  H.  Sinclair,  Fauny  M. 
Baker,  Solon  H.  Baker,  an  active  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist church  in  East  Haverhill,  and  Jason  C.Spalding.  Near 
the  close  of  this  ministry  there  was  more  than  the  usual  in- 
terest in  the  church,  and  as  a  consequence  of  this  quicken- 
ing considerable  additions  were  made  to  its  membership ; 
of  those  more  earnest  in  their  Christian  lives  were  two 
sisters,  one  of  whom  was  recently  dismissed  to  the  church 
in  Littleton,  a  brother  lately  appointed  to  the  office  of 
deacon  in  the  church,  and  previous  to  this  a  lad  Levi 
Rodgers. 

Mr.  Greeley  was  dismissed  January  6,  1858,  and  be- 
tween the  time  of  his  pastorate  and  that  of  the  Rev.  John 
D.  Emerson,  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  Prof.  Noyes  of 
Dartmouth  College  and  J.  M.  Chamberlain  of  Andover 
Theological  Seminary.  During  this  time  a  very  general 
awakening  prevailed  in  the  community,  and  a  large  num- 
ber were  received  into  the  fellowship  of  the  church  ;  of 
these  was  Lucien  H.  Frary  now  settled  in  the  ministry. 

Mr.  Emerson  was  ordained  October  1,  1858,  and  during 
his  ministry  there  were  several  periods  of  more  than  usual 
interest,  and  the  additions  to  the  church  were  quite  numer- 
ous. Of  those  who  came  in  at  that  time  were  Charles  N. 
Flanders,  Charles  H.  Merrill,  and  Franklin  P.  Wood. 
Mr.  Emerson  was  dismissed  November  17,1867,  and  about 
a  year  afterwards  Mr.  Greeley  began  his  second  pastorate 
in  this  church,  remaining  a  little  over  five  years.  The 
cases  are  not  numerous  in  which  a  minister  after  leav- 
ing a  church,  however  friendly  may  have  been  the  sep- 
aration, is  permitted  to  renew  the  pastoral  relation,  and 
in  all  such  cases  it  bespeaks  the  mutual  confidence  and 
esteem  of  both  parties. 


XVII 


Allow  me  now  to  offer  one  word  of  qualification.  It 
must  not  be  inferred  because  mention  has  been  made  of 
many  individual  members  of  this  church  that  others  were 
not  equally  genuine  witnesses  of  the  truth.  Those  who 
have  been  named  may  have  been  more  active  and  con- 
spicuous in  their  Christian  lives  and  relation  to  the  church, 
but  the  quiet  Marys  are  as  useful  aud  praiseworthy  often 
as  the  more  active  Marthas.  Little  too  is  known  at  this 
date  of  the  earliest  members  of  the  church,  but  we  may 
be  sure  of  one  thing  from  the  sacrifices  they  made  for 
the  sake  of  the  gospel,  that  they  were  noble  Christian 
men  and  women  ;  and  the  firm  stand  which  they  main- 
tained in  the  grave  and  complicated  trials  of  the  church 
reveals  in  noble  light  their  heroic  faith  and  steadfast 
Christian  principle.  Then  there  are  those  still  with  us 
whom  we  all  know  to  be  worthy  of  praise,  living  epistles 
of  the  grace  of  God,  known  and  read  of  all  men.  And 
from  time  to  time  this  church  has  received  additions  to 
its  membership  from  other  churches  of  those  whose  Christ- 
ian character  and  steadfast  support  have  made  them 
truly  pillars  of  strength  in  Zion.  And  in  justice  it  ought 
to  be  said  that  this  church  from  first  till  now  has  always 
had  those  who  though  not  members  of  its  communion, 
were  and  are  amongst  its  most  generous  and  most  faith- 
ful friends,  men  who  have  intelligent  and  appreciative 
views  of  the  importance  of  maintaining  the  ordinances  of 
the  gospel  and  the  moral  safeguards  which  every  commu- 
nity dejiiand3,.and  which  alone  can  protect  it  against  ad- 
verse and  destructive  forces.  All  praise  to  these  unnamed 
worthy  men  aud  women  ! 

In  addition  now  to  the  brief  sketch  of  the  origin  and 
growth  of   this  church  there   are  other  elements  in  its 


XVIII 

life  and  history  which  are  worthy  of  mention.  It  has 
not  only  gathered  into  its  fold  those  whose  Christian  lives 
and  labors  have  been  enjoyed  here,  but  it  has  sent  forth 
those  whose  good  works  and  influence  have  gladdened 
other  fields  of  Christian  effort.  Some  of  these  have  al- 
ready been  alluded  to,  whilst  others,  especially  two  class- 
es, may  with  propriety  be  grouped  at  this  point.  First, 
the  ministers  which  this  church  has  furnished.  Of  these 
I  find  the  names  of  Charles  Johnston,  grandson  of  Col. 
Charles  Johnston,  and  a  o:raduate  of  Dartmouth  Colleore 
in  1813.  He  studied  theology  with  Grant  Powders,  after- 
wards spending  some  time  with  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher,  at 
Litchfield,  Conn.;  was  a  home  missionary  and  evangelist 
in  Connecticut  and  New  York,  and  associated  for  awhile 
Vf'iih  the  distinguished  Dr.  Nettleton.  His  only  settled 
pastorate  was  at  Otisco,  N.  Y.,  over  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  that  place.  He  was  a  man  of  energy,  ability 
and  piety,  and  very  successful  in  his  varied  and  extensive 
Christian  labors.  Michael  Gray,  son  of  Ebenezer  Gray 
and  Ruth  Johnston,  went  to  England  and  was  educated 
in  London,  preaching  in  the  metropolis  or  vicinity  till 
1812,  when  he  returned  to  his  native  country.  After  re- 
maining here  about  a  year  he  went  back  to  England,  and 
of  his  subsequent  career  nothing  definite  is  known.  Tradi- 
tion has  it  that  he  was  a  man  of  marked  power  as  a  preach- 
er. Asa  P.  Tenny,  a  native  of  Corinth,  Vt.,  came  into  the 
church  in  1823,  and  was  settled  in  Hebron  and  West  Cou- 
cord,  a  good  and  useful  man.  Amos  G.  Bartlett,  a  con- 
vert in  the  revival  of  1831,  preached  for  a  time  at  Post 
Mills,  Vt.,  but  previous  to  his  labors  there  as  a  minister, 
he  was  engaged  in  Sabbath  school  work  in  Boston.  He  now 
resides  in  Vineland,  N.  J.  Samuel  Beane,  also  a  con- 
vert in  the  revival  of  1831,  was  settled  at  Great  Falls, 


XIX 

Little  Campton,  R.  I.,  and  Norton,  Mass.,  where  he  died. 
Mr.  Bean  was  an  excellent  and  successful  minister. 
Stephen  Adams  became  a  Methodist  preacher,  and  though 
he  did  not  unite  with  this  church,  he  was  brought  up  in 
its  Sabbath  school  and  dates  here  the  beginning  of  his 
religious  experience.  His  mother  was  a  sister  of  the  late 
Michael  Johnston.  Charles  Barstow  was  for  a  time  a 
Moravian  preacher,  afterwards  he  was  settled  over  the  Con- 
gregational church  in  Vernon,  Mich.  He  dates  his  relig- 
ous  experience  in  the  Sabbath  school — a  devoted  man  as 
our  Moravian  brethren  are  apt  to  be.  John  L.  Merrill, 
a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College  and  Princeton  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  came  into  the  church  in  1850.  He  was 
first  settled  over  the  Presbyterian  church,  Chanceford, 
York  County,  Pa.,  afterwards  at  Acworth,  and  is  now 
the  much-esteemed  and  successful  pastor  at  Marlborough. 
Benjamin  Merrill  came  into  the  church  in  1851,  gradu- 
ated from  the  Scientific  Department  of  Dartmouth  Col- 
lege and  from  Princeton  Theological  Seminary,  wa^  first 
settled  over  a  Presbyterian  church,  Cumberland  County, 
Md.,  then  at  Pembroke,  and  is  at  present  the  acceptable 
pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  Ausable  Forks,  N.  Y. 
V.  J.  Hartshorn,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College  and 
Bangor  Theological  Seminary,  was  first  settled  over  a 
church  near  Portland,  Me.,  and  afterwards  labored  for  a 
time  with  much  favor  at  Enfield,  and  is  now  in  Hyannis, 
Mass.  Levi  Rodgers,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College 
and  Andover  Theological  Seminary,  is  now  the  popular 
and  useful  pastor  at  Claremont.  Lucien  H.  Frary  grad- 
uated from  Dartmouth  College  and  Andover  Theological 
Seminary,  was  first  settled  at  Middleton,  Mass.,  and  is 
now  the  efficient  pastor  of  the  Union  Church,  Weymouth, 
Mass.     Franklin  P.  Wood  graduated  from   Dartmouth 


XX 

College  and  received  his  theological  education  at  Andover 
and  Union  Bcminary,N.  Y.,and  is  at  present  the  useful  pas- 
tor, Acton,  Mass.  Charles  H.  Merrill,  a  graduate  of  Dart- 
mouth College,  and  Andover  Theological  Seminary,  was 
first  settled  at  Mankato,  Minn.,  and  is  now  the  scholarly 
and  esteemed  pastor  of  the  church  at  AVest  Brattleboro, 
Vt.  Charles  N.  Flanders  graduated  from  Dartmouth 
College  and  Andover  Theolegical  Seminary,  and  is  now 
in  his  first  pastorate  at  Westmoreland,  an  earnest  and 
promising  man. 

We  should  also  append  to  this  list  of  ministers  an- 
other class  equally  worthy  of  mention,  who  though  not 
ministers  are  often  better  than  ministers,  and  are  some- 
times the  making  of  them.  I  refer  to  the  wives  of  min- 
isters whom  this  church  has  furnished.  Leading  the  list  is 
Hannah  Johnston,  who  became  the  wife  of  Silas  Mc  Keen, 
D.  D.  Ann  Gookin  who  married  the  Eev.  E.  J.  Board- 
man,  of  Vermont,  and  her  sister  Rebecca  who  became 
the  wife  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Tileston  of  Charlemont,  Mass. 
Hannah  Johnston  and  Rebecca  D.  Gookin  it  will  be  re- 
membered were  the  first  Sabbath  school  superintendents  of 
this  church.  Nancy  Pearson  married  the  Rev.  Christopher 
Marsh,  of  Roxbury,  Mass.  Sarah  Merrill,  sister  of  our 
senior  deacon,  became  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  Alfred  Gold- 
smith, now  of  West  Avon,  Conn.  Laura  B.  Merrill  mar- 
ried the  Rev.  Chas.  H.  Merrill  of  West  Brattleboro,  Vt. ; 
and  Emma  Page  became  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  Charles  N. 
Flanders  of  Westmoreland. 

I  do  not  think  we  have  any  reason  to  be  ashamed  of 
these  two  lists.  They  are  Christian  men  and  women  who 
have  filled  and  are  filling  a  large  measure  of  usefulness, 
nearly  if  not  quite  all  have  received  the  most  thorough 


XXI 

training  for  their  ^vork, — graduates  from  colleges  and 
female  seminaries.  In  the  future  as  in  the  past  I 
trust  we  shall  continue  to  hear  good  reports  of  those  who 
are  still  in  the  Master's  field. 

The  spirit  of  benevolence  was  cherished  from  the  first. 
As  early  as  1794,  the  church  voted  to  have  a  common 
stock  of  interest  devoted  to  charitable  and  benevolent 
purposes.  The  contributions  to  this  fund  are  voluntary. 
In  1795  the  church  voted  to  hold  quarterly  concerts  of 
prayer.  These  meetings  were  quite  likely  the  beginning 
of  the  monthly  missionary  concerts.  Thus  the  spirit  of 
special  prayer  and  benevolence  went  hand  in  hand,  and 
our  fathers  early  recognized  the  truth  that  it  is  "  more 
blessed  to  give  than  to  receive." 

The  articles  of  faith  adopted  by  the  church  at  its  organ- 
ization were  soon  after  changed  as  not  being  full  and  ex- 
plicit enough.  This  second  creed  consisted  of  eleven 
articles,  and  is  sufficiently  full  and  orthodox.  The  church 
also  appended  to  the  covenant  twelve  ''points"  in  ex- 
planation of  what  the  covenant  meant.  The  twelfth 
"point"  is  suggestive  of  Revolutionary  scenes  on  the 
borders  of  which  the  church  had  its  birth,  and  demands  of 
all  its  members  obedience  to  the  laws  of  the  land,  pro- 
viding they  do  not  conflict  with  the  laws  of  Christ.  Our 
fathers  were  believers  in  loyalty  and  liberty  both. 

This  second  creed  remained  unchanged  till  the  minis- 
try of  Mr.  Wood,  when  it  was  revised,  and  this  revised 
form  continued  in  use  until  a  recent  date,  when  it  was 
displaced  for  a  biMefer  statement  of  faith  more,  as  was 
thought,  in  accordance  with  the  spirit  and  teachings  of 
Christ. 


XXII 

In  looking  over  the  records  of  this  church  one  is  im- 
pressed with  wliat  is  a  well  known  fact  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  our  churches,  that  the  matter  of  discipline  was 
strongly  emphasized.  Church  meetings  were  largely 
occupied  with  cases  of  various  kinds  of  irregularity, 
some  of  them  grave  and  complicated,  others  of  a  less 
serious  character.  In  many  cases  the  accused  were 
brought  to  humble  repentance  and  confession  ;  once  in  a 
while  a  member  was  cut  off  for  persistency  in  a  wrong 
course,  No  doubt  our  ancestors  carried  this  matter  of 
discipline  too  far,  perverting  what  should  only  be  an 
exceptional  procedure  into  a  general  rule.  AYe  are 
reaping  in  our  day  the  re-action  of  tlieir  extreme  course 
by  neglecting  church  discipline  almost  altogether,  so  that 
now  it  would  seem  as  if  it  matters  little  what  church 
members  may  do,  however  notoriously  irregularly  and 
disreputably  they  may  walk,  they  are  tolerated  with  appar- 
ent impunity  until  the  churches  of  every  name  are  cov- 
ered all  over  with  these  moral  barnacles.  May  there  not 
be  a  safer  and  more  judicious  way? 

The  Sabbath  school  has  always  been  a  prominent  feat- 
ure in  the  work  of  the  church,  being  one  of  the  first  or- 
ganized in  this  region,  and  owes  its  origin  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Sutherland  of  Bath  who  was  a  Scotchman  and  a  Sabbath 
school  worker  in  Edinburgh  before  he  came  to  this  coun- 
try. The  first  superintendents  were  women.  Library 
books  theu  in  use  m^iy  still  be  found  in  some  of  the  old 
families  as  heir-looms  of  earlier  days  in  this  field  of 
Christian  eflTort.  Miss  Eliza  Cross,  the  oldest  living  mem- 
ber of  the  church,  now  in  her  eighty -seventh  year,  was 
also  one  of  the  earlier  superintendents  ;  and  am;)ngst 
those  more  deeply  interested  in  its  aims  and  success  were 


XXIII 

Deas.  Chester  Farman  and  Henry  Barstow.  The  rec- 
ords^f  the  church  testify  to  the  fact  that  a  very  large  per 
cent,  of  those  regularly  attending  the  Sabbath  school 
have  become  hopefully  pious.  This  has  been  more  strik- 
ingly the  fact  in  later  years.  The  teachers  and  others 
have  maintained  a  concert  of  secret  prayer  at  9  o'clock  on 
Sabbath  morning  for  God's  blessing  upon  the  school.  The 
Christian  usefulness  of  the  Sabbath  school  has  by  no 
means  been  exhausted,  indeed  it  is  just  taking  its  proper 
place  in  our  thoughts  and  endeavors,  and  all  who  are  con- 
nected with  it  as  laborers  should  strive  zealously  to  make 
it  more  truly  the  "  hope  of.  the  church."  The  plain 
teaching  of  the  word  with  personal  interest  in  their  wel- 
fare w  ill  bring  multitudes  to  a  Christain  hope  who  other- 
■\vise  might  not  be  reached.  Sabbath  school  workers  have 
a  rare  opportunity  for  achieving  splendid  results. 

Such,  my  friends,  is  a  brief  sketch  of  this  church  in  its 
origin  and  work.  It  remains  only  to  add  a  few  words  in 
bringing  this  review  to  a  close.  I  think  I  may  safely  say 
the  church  with  all  its  imperfections  has  been  a  useful 
church  and  a  blessing  to  this  community.  The  good 
which  it  has  done  cannot  be  estimated  as  we  estimate 
ordinary  things.  The  numbers  wdiich  have  from  time  to 
time  been  added  to  its  list  of  membership  is  by  no  means 
a  measure  of  its  usefulness  or  the  good  it  has  accom- 
plished. It  has  a  life  and  influence  apart  from  that, 
though  that  would  be  a  grand  work — so  many  persons 
endued  through  its  instrumentality  with  a  new  life  and 
hope.  But  the  general  influence  for  good  of  a  Christian 
church  is  worthy  the  regard  of  all  thoughtful  persons. 
We  have  only  to  take  the  church  with  its  moral  safe- 
guards and  restraints,  its  educational  and  right-directing 


XXIV 

forces  out  of  a  comtnuiiity,  in  order  to  understand  the 
vital  position  which  it  holds  in  the  welfare  of  a  people. 
We  have  simply  to  contrast  those  comuiumities  where 
unfortunately  either  no  church  has  been  established  or 
permanently  maintained,  with  such  communities  where  a 
warm  and  secure  place  has  welcomed  and  cherished  it,  if 
we  would  fully  appreciate  their  moral  difference.  We  need 
but  study  the  religious  character  of  families  fostered  un- 
der the  care  and  guide  of  the  church 'with  those  families 
who  are  aliens  to  such  an  influence,  and  the  great  good 
of  a  church  in  shaping  the  moral  character  of  a  people 
will  be  apparent  to  the  dullest  mind.  It  is  just  this  pow- 
er which  to-day  makes  us  what  we  are  in  all  that  is  noble 
and  right ;  and  it  is  for  us  to  say  whether  this  church 
shall  be  more  and  more  a  source  of  good  in  this  commu- 
nity. And  to  us  is  assigned  the  duty  and  opportunity  of 
carrying  forward  and  more  fully  completing  the  noble 
work  which  our  fathers  have  begun.  The  years  gone  by 
are  full  of  worthy  lives  and  examples ;  and  when  again 
this  church  shall  review  its  past  history  may  we  have  been 
found  true  and  faithful  in  our  place.  Let  this  be  our 
prayer.     Amen. 


APPENDIX. 

Tlie  contributions  of  tlie  church  for  purely  benevolent  pur- 
poses from  1840  to  the  present  time,— previous  to  this  no 
record  being  kept,  are  §11,190.66;  the  largest  in  a  single 
year,  1865,  was  $475.19;  and  the  smallest,  1849,  S  134.63. 
The  contributions  are  taken  up  at  communion  services. 

The  salaries  paid  by  the  church  and  society  have  varied 
with  the  times.  Ml-.  Powers  received  $500  per  annum. 
At  present  the  salary  is  put  at  §  1000.  The  church  also  owns 
a  parsonage,  now  in  good  repair  within  and  without,  which  is 
given  free  of  rent  to  the  minister. 

The  whole  number  of  persons  connected  with  the  cliurch 
from  its  organization  is  649;  largest  number  received  in  a 
single  year  is  45  in  1831 ;  largest  membership  in  any  one  year 
190 ;  present  membership,  169. 


V' 


PHOTOMOUNT 

PAMPHLET  BINDER 

-^ 

Manu/aclured  by 

GAYLORD  BROS.  Inc. 

Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

Stockton,  Calif. 


